Ninu and I became close as brother and sister as we explored the Rockies' meadows and valleys. I showed my gift to Ninu, who thinks it's wicked awesome. We learned to hunt and fish as we grew a bit each month this fall. Unfortunately, I had the desire to hibernate for the winter, supposing it's a side effect to my bear-shifter gift. So, I went to sleep in my claimed den which is a nest under a cliff ridge while Ninu to her joy, got a comfy cave hid between twin pine trees.
I felt the warm air, and the presence of a full moon as I woke up for spring. I came out, awed by the landscape, snow dominated by blooming trees and singing birds. I shifted to human, humming as I headed to a pond, thirsty and wanting a bath. As I finished my bath, I was disturbed by noises. I snorted softly, and exclaimed, "Why couldn't a man get any peace around here?!". Suddenly, I was surprised out of a pouncing animal I couldn't immediately see, and I fell into the pond, sputtering for air, my clothes wet, kelp in my hair.
"About time, bro, Pine!". exclaimed a voice. I widened my ears as my ears recognized Ninu's purring voice. I glanced over and I stared in shock as I saw a yearling Ninu, her coat shining, her tail flickering in excitement.
I shifted back to bear, "Ninu, is that you?! You look so big and amazing.". Ninu laughed, nodded as I lumbered out of the pond, my size almost in comparison to Ninu's new size. She only reached up to my shoulders, and in length, she's longer than me. Heck, her tail takes up my entire front end. Her paws is now as big as Gevahin's paws was. We catched up about her winter. She was successful in taking down deer and elk. She had decided to wait for me to help her to take down a moose she's been eyeing for weeks. I agreed to that plan, on the condition that I have to build back up my strength first.
So for the next week, with the days warming more and more, I snacked up on berries and fish until I decided that I was strong enough now. With Ninu excited and I intrigued, we headed off to the valley near our mountain, and to my pleasure, we have seen bounties of deer, elk, and a herd of moose with the biggest one I have ever seen in my life! Ninu told me that the lead moose was a elder, slightly lame, and very experienced in fending off enemies from his herd. Ninu respected him for he managed to fend off a pack of wolves who has been pestering her and the other carnivores around that the pack would take the moose down. But now it's our turn!
Our plan was to have Ninu spook the herd, and stray off the elder male, moving it toward me where I'm gonna hide in a dead end ridge bushes within my human form for it's easier to hide, then shift to bear as I attack. We checked the wind, the grass, the scents, and then we hit it off. I would hear the bugles and squeals of the bull and as it came into sight, with Ninu biting and clawing the back end. As he nearby got to my spot, I striked, shifting to bear, my fangs piercing the jugular of the bull, my claws pinning the chest over to one side. My jaw moved here and there, hitting the blood vessels precisely, my ears hearing the fading bugle of the bull, a few bleats, then he went gone, limp in my jaws.
We celebrated, literally eating off one side of the bull, paying respects to his spirit, and bringing the rest of the bounty over to my den for eating here and there the next two or three days. We spent these days having fun, and marking our territory which laid out over two miles. On one of the remaining snowy hills, we are able to snow-slide for fun or the dare of a race.
One of these races, it chanced us to meet the Seekers gang. I was in my hybrid mode which is rare for me. Ninu was winning until I tried a risky move.
Ninu was sliding on the right side, laughing at me as I tried to maintain my balance, "Looks I am gonna win this one, slowpoke!". I snorted annoyed as I saw a ridge hill in front of us, and I grinned.
"Think again, sis!". I shouted to her as I rammed my speed toward the hill, and shot off, whooping as I shifted to human, landing with a whoop as Ninu avoided the hill, did some of her hopping moves as she came close to my side. I smirked at her as Ninu glared at me. At that minute, we didn't unfortunately notice the patch of ice in front of us, and we heard a shout, and we turned our eyes to see the ice, and we came into the surface, yelling and trying to balance on our feet/paws. Ninu lost her balance and came into me, and we crashed, becoming a ball, yelping and growling as we crashed into a snowdrift, the soft snow saving our butts from injury, through I ended up with a few bruises from Ninu's tail and Ninu ended up with her left side of whiskers twisted.
"That was awesome!". I shouted as I came out with snow on my head.
Ninu came out with a snow beard, and snorted, "If you think we'll do that again, don't you dare ask me!". I laughed and shook the snow off me as I shifted back to bear, my strength helping me out of the snow drift. Ninu came out of the snow drift, using her paws and body to wiggle. She shook off her snow beard, and growled.
"I swore I heard a shout.". Ninu commented thoughtfully.
I raised a eyebrow, "Thought I did too.". We heard giggles and laughter below us, and we glanced down to see a unique group of bears. We slided down the side of the snow drift to meet face to face with the group. Kallik, Toklo, Lusa, Urajurak.
